Thursday, April 6 2006 15:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Midnapore (WB): Reports will be submitted shortly to the Election Commission on the police raids in CPI (M)'s zonal office at Keshpur in West Midnapore district on April 4, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan said here today (Apr 6, 2006).

"We are aware of it. A complaint has been received from the CPI(M). Reports will be filed separately by the district magistrate, the superintendent of police and the EC observer on the incident and sent to the Election Commission," said Balakrishnan, who arrived here along with another Deputy Election Commissioner Ananth Kumar to review poll preparedness and security arrangements.

CPI(M) has charged the EC observer Manmohan Singh, camping in the area, with initiating the raids on party offices at Keshpur with the help of Punjab police and the RAF, at the instance of the Trinamool Congress.

CPI(M) state Secretary Biman Bose condemned the raids and described it as 'one-sided, unnecessary, partial and undemocratic'.

Balakrishnan said he had sought a detailed report fromthe district administration on the seizure of illegal arms.

To a question, he said law and order in the district was reviewed at a high-level meeting with the superintendent of police, inspector-general of police, DIG (Midnapore range), besides top officials of the BSF and the CRPF.

About the deployment of security personnel in the Maoist-hit districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, the Deputy EC said the borders with Jharkhand and Orissa would be sealed.

Chief Electoral Officer Debasish Sen accompanied the two Deputy ECs from Kolkata.